Let me just say this: I don’t take jean buying lightly. It’s a painful process, they’re largely uncomfortable to wear, and in the end, few pairs are flattering.

I’ve personally spent many many weekend days, and online ordering binges (as i’m sure you have) trying to find the perfect jean. I’ve come close a few times, but these Banana Republic Sculpt Skinny Jeans are as close as i’ve come as a size 12-14 woman.

First thing’s first, they’re the right length. They’re about 32″ in length, which for me is absolutely ideal for rolling. If you read this post, you’ll know that i’m a huge fan of messily rolling pant legs and actually prefer a bit of additional length over a perfectly fitted pant leg.

On the topic of color, these jeans have no crazy wiskering or fading. There’s nothing worse than fading on the front of your thighs (this will make them appear bigger), or on your rear end. These are nice, clean, gently faded dark blue jeans. Perfect.

Finally, the pocket placement in the back is ideal. Tip from me to you: avoid jeans with pockets that are set too far apart in the back. This will only make your butt look bigger. Closer pockets with a bit of a slant draw the eye inward, perfect for ladies with a substantial tush.

And last but not least: rise. Ugh. I can’t even tell you how perfect these are. They hit me about an inch below my belly button, with no gaping in the back. They sit flat on my stomach and don’t do that annoying thing that some jeans do when they dig into your stomach when you sit. With a mix of 80% cottom, 13% polyester and elastane, they have just enough give to be perfect throughout the whole day.

Please do share if you try these jeans, and let me know your opinion.

Also also also! I’ll be reviewing Khloe Kardashian’s new denim line Good American in the next week or so after I receive the 3 pairs I ordered this morning. It was designed to fit curvy women, and was made in sizes 0-24. Stay tuned.

This is my first time writing a post in nearly 2 years, and i’m terrified, excited, and hope you’re all eager to continue to join me on this journey.

I imagine everyone still following along is wondering where i’ve been. Well, since my last post i’ve: met a wonderful boy, moved in with him, had a scary medical experience (more on that below), gotten engaged and married. Phew! It’s been quite the 24 months.

I’d like to start out slow, putting one post in front of the other, seeing how I feel. This is a space i’ve loved for nearly five years, and i’m excited to be back to it, and to you.

But, before that, I want to share some words that I wrote just weeks after the most terrifying medical experience of my young life. Not to scare anyone or garner sympathy, but mostly because I want to remember my mindset and my thinking during that time. The words below are entirely unedited. They were composed during a time of recovery, when all I craved was to create. I never published these words or have shared them with anyone, until now.

I’m back ladies. Let’s do this.
_______

Date: May 29, 2015

Today, I felt the urge to create. To write, to publish, to share and to get my feelings out on paper. Mostly, I felt the strongest urge to come back to this space, to share with you where life has taken me in the last year.

The biggest change is the one i’m currently in. I write now from inside a home, on a Friday at 1030am. I write with a terrible headache, with a stomach full of nerves and fear in my heart. But all the while, a great fullness to be typing and breathing and living.
3 weeks ago I suffered an intracerebral hemorrhage. I woke up in the middle of the night with a head pain unlike any i’d ever experienced. My loving, caring boyfriend rushed me to the ER and life changed forever. I was immediately admitted to the hospital and so began weeks of pain, recovery, doctors and terror. As one that has never so much as suffered from a broken bone, this level of medical intervention was, to say the least, terrifying.
I sit now 2 weeks into recovery, out of the hospital. I am walking, I am talking, I am thinking, I am loving and I am breathing. For all of these things I am eternally grateful. I will work again, I will travel again, I will get my day-to-day life back again, in due time.
For that I am eternally grateful.
For this space, I am grateful.
For the ability to create, I am grateful.
For you, I am grateful.

This space has given me so much in the last 3 years. It’s a place that allows me to feel ownership over something, to share what I wish to share with the world, to grow a passion i’ve always had, to find people like me, to relate. Thank you for that, thank you for being here.

Victoria recommended these sandals a few weeks ago, and i’m a bit embarrassed to admit how quickly I clicked over to Zappos to scoop them up. Living in San Francisco I’m always in need of stylish walking shoes, and these fit the bill. The lace up detail provides a bit of extra support while the memory foam soul makes it feel like you’re walking on clouds. You need to own these.

This last weekend was one for the record books. Specifically, Saturday was one of the greatest days. A few girlfriends and I had been trying to plan a day trip out of the city for quite a while. Given that the two ladies i’d be traveling with worked in the wine industry, Napa felt more than appropriate. We left San Francisco at around 9am and made our way slowly through Bouchon bakery in Yountville, Olivier in St. Helena and Farmstead for lunch, into some of the most gorgeous wineries I had ever seen.

We visited Swanson, Raymond and Chandon wineries and couldn’t help but snap a few pictures amidst the stunning vines.

I have the most beautiful friends and it makes me so happy to capture their pure joy in photos.